Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo says he wants to
go down in history on the same page as Pele and Diego Maradona,
while revealing he hopes he does not have to face former club
Manchester United anytime soon.
The 24-year-old Portuguese international became the most
expensive player ever earlier this year after the Bernabeu outfit
paid £80 million to prise him away from Old Trafford, where he
netted 84 Premier League goals.
The current FIFA World Player of the Year made an explosive
start to life in la Liga, breaking a Real Madrid club record by
scoring in his first four league games, before suffering an ankle
injury.
And Ronaldo has revealed that, ideally, he would like to
continue playing professional football for another 15 years, with
his ultimate ambition to join South American greats Pele and
Maradona as one of the best players ever to have graced the
game.
"I have another seven, eight years in football, or more. If my
legs give me a chance to play until 40, I want to play," he told
FourFourTwo Malaysia.
"But I want to be in the first page of history, the same as
Maradona and Pele. I want to be there.
"I know it’s very tough but I think it’s possible if I carry on
like that, to win things. I think it’s possible. I know it’s hard,
but in my head, it’s possible."
And the former Sporting Lisbon starlet added that he hopes he
does not have come face-to-face with former employers Manchester
United in the Champions League either this season or next, as he
still retains many friends from his successful six-year stint in
England.
"I don’t want to play against Manchester. It’s a strange feeling
if I play against them," he said.
"But you never know. In the Champions League, everything is
possible but I don’t want to play against Manchester.
"I still have the same friends. I speak sometimes with Rooney,
Vidic, Ferdinand, Nani, Evra, Anderson.
"It’s good to know what’s going on there and the people like to
know if I’m happy here."